‘I was in a zone’ - and now Captain Coleman wants a repeat upset

Seamus Coleman says that Ireland were "incredible" in Lille last night but the man who captained Ireland to one of the greatest victories in the history of the team insists that there is not reason why, if they keep playing like this, he and his team mates cannot make a really major impact on this tournament.

“I thought we were incredible from the off,” he says. “We got in about them. We were very disappointing against Belgium and we knew that but the manager addressed it and I thought you could it tonight that we got in about them tonight. We tried to play out when it was on, we were comfortable on the ball and we fully deserved that win.

“I’m not surprised,” he continued. “You should never go into matches with different mindsets but we probably went into the Belgium game giving them that bit too much respect. I was glad that we needed the win tonight, not the draw because maybe we would have sat back and tried to see it out but we needed the win and we played with confidence and we fully deserved it.”

On a personal level, it was an outstanding night for the Everton full-back who not only captained the side but looked like a real leader from beginning to end. “I was in a zone,” he says, “”once I knew once I was captain that I had a job to do. The lads have to look up to you and I was fully focused on making this a memorable night for Ireland.

"I'm delighted for Robbie Brady, though, he deserves that and I have to give Wes (Hoolahan) an awful lot of credit too because he missed that chance and a lot of people could crumble and not want the ball after something like that but he kept going and what a delivery, what a brave header and what a night for everyone."

The 27 year-old was clearly affected by the occasion and sense of achievement after having come a very long way in a game that pretty much passed him by at the time that most professionals are starting to make their name.

"It's incredible. I've done a few interviews and I was getting a bit emotional. It's mad to think; from Sligo Rovers not so long ago to this... my dad driving back and over the road with me trying to make it in football. So to be captain of your country for something like this is something I'll always remember but, it's not done yet, we've full belief that we can go further in this tournament.

“If we have the same application (against France in Lyon) then there’s no reason why we can’t (cause another upset).”